Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master - Chapter 1509

Chapter 1509: Chapter 620: Collusion (2)

In the Martial Arts Hall, the mechanical bird soared and fell incessantly, accompanied by the mingling sounds of bamboo chimes, zither music, and the tremor of reeds, gradually infusing the air with the atmosphere of an ancient echo in an empty valley.

Ning Zhuo stood amidst it all, his white robes swaying slightly, the sacrificial pattern in his palm dormant like ash, yet the brightness in his eyes remained undiminished.

Meanwhile, a negotiation had reached its climax.

Chun Yangzi and the Nine Fire Dragon Lord, both Nascent Soul Cultivators, exchanged glances.

One was imposing and majestic, the other exuded a deep dragon’s might.

The Nine Fire Dragon Lord suddenly laughed, “You are quite willing to let go.”

Chun Yangzi said indifferently, “What’s meant to be let go, must be let go. If you can’t bear to part with these branches and leaves, how can you take the entire treasure ground?”

The Nine Fire Dragon Lord nodded, “Alright, I’ll help you with this.”

Chun Yangzi gave a slight nod.

Convincing the Nine Fire Dragon Lord was not difficult for him. Even before setting out, he was confident.

The reason was simple; the Nine Fire Dragon Lord had invested heavily in a small attempt to repair the Nanming Fire Furnace and was burdened by huge debts, debts owed to the power brokers behind the black market, which he dared not ignore.

Chun Yangzi exploited this point, offering a vast sum of money to help the Nine Fire Dragon Lord alleviate the repayment pressure immediately.

This proposal instantly tempted the Nine Fire Dragon Lord.

After some bargaining, Chun Yangzi added a few more trimmings, making the Nine Fire Dragon Lord feel he had gained much more, finally achieving the goal of persuading this Demon Cultivator.

“Compared to persuading the Nine Fire Dragon Lord, convincing the Red Robe Guest is much harder. I wonder how things are on Ning Zhuo’s side?”

Chun Yangzi still had an unresolved weight on his mind.

So, after leaving the Nine Fire Dragon Lord’s Cave Mansion, he didn’t return to his own place but went directly to Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo had long expected Chun Yangzi to come looking for him, was unsurprised, and without pretense, announced upon meeting that he had already succeeded.

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Upon hearing this, Chun Yangzi’s gaze fell on Ning Zhuo, lingering for two more breaths.

He knew that the Red Robe Guest harbored deep-seated hatred towards him and was notoriously rebellious and difficult to tame. If he had gone personally, things would most likely have gone awry. Yet Ning Zhuo not only succeeded in convincing them, but judging by the look on his face, it seemed he truly made the Red Robe Guest accept the matter, rather than merely forcing compliance.

This was even more remarkable!

The evaluation of Ning Zhuo in Chun Yangzi’s heart rose quietly.

“You solved a big problem for me.” Chun Yangzi’s tone was softer than usual, “I will remember this matter.”

Ning Zhuo did not claim credit, clasping his fists, “This junior did it for the sake of Nanming Village.”

Chun Yangzi chuckled lightly, raised his teacup, took a sip, and the big stone that had weighed upon his heart finally settled down.

He relaxed and, looking at Ning Zhuo, suddenly asked, “What do you think we should do next to compete for the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar?”

This was not merely a casual inquiry.

It was more like a test.

Ning Zhuo’s fingertips gently caressed the rim of his cup. The lamplight glittered in his eyes, and he smiled faintly, “There is only one crucial point.”

Chun Yangzi’s brows twitched slightly, “What crucial point?”

But Ning Zhuo did not immediately reveal the answer.

He blinked, “Senior, why don’t you and I each write a word in our palms, then reveal them simultaneously? If our thoughts coincide, it will save us a lot of unnecessary words.”

Chun Yangzi was slightly taken aback, then laughed heartily, “Interesting.”

It wasn’t the game itself that was interesting, but rather how Ning Zhuo used this method to quietly elevate his own status, attempting to engage in equal dialogue with him.

If Ning Zhuo had spoken the answer, it would have confirmed Chun Yangzi’s “test” of the young man’s intellect, reinforcing the perception of Chun Yangzi’s higher status.

This was a small but noteworthy skirmish.

Chun Yangzi and Ning Zhuo each wrote a key word in their palms.

The two extended their palms simultaneously.

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Chun Yangzi had written a single word: Quick!

Ning Zhuo had written a single word: Direct.

Their eyes met, and they both laughed.

Different words, yet the meaning was essentially the same.

Quick meant not giving the Territorial Expansion Alliance, White Cloud Village, or the forces of Flowing Cloud Peak time to slowly haggle and arrange their schemes.

Direct meant not going in circles, not probing, not making an initial show of force, not sending countless envoys, but directly striking at the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar with the power of thunder to seize the key positions.

Slowness would breed changes.

To go around the bend would mean missing opportunities.

Now that the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar was exposed, it was no longer a secret, hidden treasure ground unknown to others.

The Territorial Expansion Alliance had operated for many years, White Cloud Village held the title, the forces of Flowing Cloud Peak were secretly watching, and even the main peaks and halls behind them might extend their influence.

If Nanming Village were to still think of leisurely planning, waiting for them to clarify titles, gather manpower, and set up new formations, it would be like handing over the best opportunity.

Currently, Nanming Village boasts five Nascent Souls, numerous elite Golden Cores, and among Foundation Establishment Cultivators, talents like Ning Zhuo, Situ Xing, Shen Xi, Lin Jinglong, and Mu Yuehua could rival Golden Cores. They could be considered a strong and formidable force!

With such strength, strike swiftly and attack directly.

Chun Yangzi withdrew his hand, looking at Ning Zhuo with undisguised admiration in his eyes: “A good example of directness.”

Ning Zhuo also said: “Senior’s swiftness truly shows grandeur.”

Chun Yangzi said: “Since it’s about being swift and direct, the vanguard is most crucial. If the first strike cannot break through, all the planning afterward is empty talk.”

Ning Zhuo nodded.

Both fell silent simultaneously.

The tea smoke in the study curled around the lamp, like a thin cloud line.

Who should take on the role of vanguard?

A name surfaced in Chun Yangzi’s mind.

A name also surfaced in Ning Zhuo’s mind.

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They did not immediately speak it out, but exchanged a look.

Chun Yangzi saw the calm and determination in Ning Zhuo’s eyes, and a feeling welled up in his heart — this young man once again was in perfect agreement with him.

Indeed, both pointed to one person — Tan Zhu!

Chun Yangzi laughed heartily and extended his hand.

Ning Zhuo understood immediately and extended his hand as well, laughing together with Chun Yangzi.

After a moment of laughter, Chun Yangzi gathered his composure, his eyes shining as he looked at Ning Zhuo, suddenly saying: “Ning Zhuo, if you weren’t at Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage, I would have thought you’d wielded authority in a major Righteous Path sect for a century.”

Ning Zhuo chuckled: “I am just burdened with too much, forcing me to think more.”

Chun Yangzi: “Shall we go together?”

Ning Zhuo nodded: “I shall follow the senior’s lead.”

The stone cave where Tan Zhu resided was very empty.

No valuable objects, no flowers or plants, no excessive decoration. Only a black stone cushion, a copper lamp that has been burning for an unknown length of time, its weak light illuminating the walls like disease-ridden bones in grayish white. In the corner, a few medicine jars were sealed with talisman paper, yet a bitter scent seeped out slowly.

Tan Zhu sat cross-legged on the cushion.

He had a slender figure, his face appeared pale, eyes slightly sunken, and his black hair had large patches of gray. The purple-black robe draped over him hung empty, like it was covered with a layer of smoke that was about to disperse. He looked less like the notorious Demon Path villain who recently stirred up White Cloud Village Flowing Cloud Ferry, leaving several Nascent Souls at a loss, and more like an old man long ill and quietly waiting for his time.

But the more it was like this, the more it made people feel chilled to the core.

Poison Annihilation Wanderer Tan Zhu’s most terrifying aspect was not his wildness, but his calmness.

As if life and death, gain and loss, reputation, and grudges had all faded in his eyes, leaving only some unknown obsession buried somewhere still supporting him to this day.

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Tan Zhu looked up at Chun Yangzi, then at Ning Zhuo: “You two come slower than I thought.”

Chun Yangzi’s expression remained unchanged, but a quick ripple flashed across Ning Zhuo’s eyes.

Chun Yangzi found a nearby rock and sat down slowly, his manner still dignified and grand: “Since Fellow Daoist Tan knows we would come, surely you know our purpose.”

Tan Zhu nodded: “Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar.”

Thoughts in Ning Zhuo’s heart surged restlessly.

Tan Zhu’s deal with the poison at White Cloud Village Flowing Cloud Ferry left several Nascent Souls unable to resolve it, forcing them to beg him. When Tan Zhu collected the poison smoke, he happened to interrupt the cloud qi cycle, exposing the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar.

Now, observing Tan Zhu’s demeanor further validated Ning Zhuo’s suspicion — Tan Zhu’s actions were no mere coincidence!

Chun Yangzi looked at Tan Zhu, stating directly: “Nanming Village wishes to contest for the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar and needs a vanguard.”

Tan Zhu said indifferently: “I’ll go.”

No inquiry about remuneration.

No bargaining.

Not even asking about the plan.

The agreement was too crisp!

So crisp that Chun Yangzi and Ning Zhuo felt not a glimpse of happiness but rather a simultaneous heaviness in their hearts.

Chun Yangzi’s gaze slightly focused.

Ning Zhuo gently lowered his eyelids, concealing his thoughtful eyes.

After pondering a while, Ning Zhuo said gently: “Senior Tan, won’t you ask a single question?”

Tan Zhu looked at him, his gaze faint but not muddled: “Ask what?”

“Ask about the risks of this venture, ask what Nanming Village can offer you, ask what you can gain after taking action.”

Tan Zhu was silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled.

His laughter was soft, barely warranting the term ‘laugh’; it was merely a twitch of the corner of his mouth.

“My lifespan is nearing its end, I have no descendants, nothing to hold me back. Risks, to me, are no longer concerns worth pondering. As for the benefits…”

He slowly raised his hand, a wisp of purple-black smoke coalesced into a thin line at his fingertips, then quickly dispersed.

“Since I am joining Nanming Village, I shall act on behalf of Nanming Village.”